Poinsettia plant named &#39;PER1409&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘PER1409’, characterized by its uniform, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely and upright branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; under natural season conditions, plants flower on or about November 17 in Southern California; large inflorescences with light yellow and peach-colored flower bracts with dark pink-colored flecks and spots; and good post-production longevity.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘PER1409’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PER1409’.

The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Poinsettia plants having large inflorescences with attractive flower bracts and excellent post-production longevity.

The new Poinsettia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in December, 2008 of a proprietary selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number PE7-32, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent, with a proprietary selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 142-06, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Poinsettia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in December, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since February, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Poinsettia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PER1409’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PER1409’ as a new and distinct Poinsettia plant:

-   -   1. Uniform, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely and upright branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Under natural season conditions, plants flower on or about         November 17 in Southern California.     -   6. Large inflorescences with light yellow and peach-colored         flower bracts with dark pink-colored flecks and spots.     -   7. Good post-production longevity.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia and the female parent selection         differ in flower bract color as plants of the female parent         selection have hot pink-colored flower bracts.     -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia flower about one week earlier         than plants of the female parent selection when grown under         natural season conditions.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia and the male parent selection         differ in flower bract color as plants of the male parent         selection have lemon white-colored flower bracts.     -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia flower about one week earlier         than plants of the male parent selection when grown under         natural season conditions.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘Peterstar Pink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,879. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Poinsettia differed primarily from plants of ‘Peterstar Pink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia had a more upright branching         habit than plants of ‘Peterstar Pink’.     -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia had darker green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘Peterstar Pink’.     -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia and ‘Peterstar Pink’ differed in         flower bract color as plants of ‘Peterstar Pink’ had         pink-colored flower bracts.     -   4. Plants of the new Poinsettia flowered about eight days         earlier than plants of ‘Peterstar Pink’.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘PER975’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,882. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Poinsettia differed primarily from plants of ‘PER975’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia were not as vigorous as plants         of ‘PER975’.     -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia had darker green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘PER975’.     -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia and ‘PER975’ differed in flower         bract color as plants of ‘PER975’ had light pink to pale         yellow-colored flower bracts.     -   4. Plants of the new Poinsettia flowered about four days earlier         than plants of ‘PER975’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Poinsettia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Poinsettia plant. The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘PER1409’ grown in a container. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘PER1409’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following detailed description were grown during the late autumn/early winter in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under natural season conditions and cultural practices typical of commercial Poinsettia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were pinched one time and were 21 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘PER1409’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia             pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number PE7-32, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia             pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 142-06, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About seven to ten days at night             temperatures about 20° C. and day temperatures about 27° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at             night temperatures about 20° C. and day temperatures about             27° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit and form.—Uniform, upright and mounded plant             habit; inverted triangle; large inflorescences positioned             above the foliar plane; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 37.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 54 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity: Freely branching             habit, about seven lateral branches develop after pinching;             upright branching habit. Length: About 32 cm. Diameter:             Thick, about 9 mm. Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect: About 30° to 40° from vertical. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Glossy. Color: More green than             146A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 11.25 cm. Width: About 9.25 cm. Shape: Ovate with             cordate tendencies. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Mostly truncate             with cordate tendencies. Margin: Mostly entire, occasionally             with broad lobes. Aspect: Flat. Venation pattern: Pinnate,             arcuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly rugose. Color: Developing and fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A or 147A;             venation, close to 146A. Developing and fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to             146C. Petioles: Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146B to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Terminal inflorescences are             compound corymbs of cyathia with colored flower bracts             subtending the cyathia; inflorescences uniformly positioned             above the foliar plane.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants             typically flower on or about November 17 in Southern             California; under artificial long nyctoperiod/short             photoperiod conditions, plants flower about seven to eight             weeks later.         -   Post-production longevity.—Good post-production longevity;             plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good substance and             flower bract color for about four to six weeks under             interior conditions; flower bracts persistent and cyathia             not persistent.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 32 cm.         -   Inflorescence height (depth).—About 5 cm.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 25. Length,             largest bracts: About 13 cm. Width, largest bracts: About             10.5 cm. Shape: Ovate; occasionally with broad shallow             lobes. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire,             occasionally with broad shallow lobes. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; mostly flat to             slightly rugose. Aspect: Mostly upright to horizontal;             keeled. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color:             Developing or transitional bracts, upper surface: Ground             color, close to 144A and N137A; irregular and random             sectors, close to 10A. Developing or transitional bracts,             lower surface: Ground color, close to 144A, 146B and 146C;             irregular and random sectors, close to 10B and 10C. Fully             expanded bracts, upper surface: Close to 24C; random flecks             and spots, close to 53A and 53B; some bracts, close to 38C             and 38D with flecks and spots, close to 47A to 47B or 52A;             color becoming closer to 18A and 16B with development. Fully             expanded bracts, lower surface: Close to 24D; flecks and             spots, close to 53B; color becoming closer to 18B and 16C             with development. Bract petioles: Length: About 4.6 cm.             Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144B.         -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About 15. Length: About 8 mm.             Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Oval. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 144B.         -   Nectaries.—Quantity per cyathium: One. Length: About 6 mm.             Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Roughly oval. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 17C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium:             About 20. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color: Close             to 154D. Anther shape: Round; bi-lobed. Anther length: Less             than 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 9A. Amount of pollen: None             observed. Pistils: Quantity per cyathium: One; tri-parted.             Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Lanceolate,             recurved. Stigma color: Close to 53B. Style length: About             4 mm. Style color: Close to 144B. Ovary color: Close to             144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Poinsettia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Poinsettia plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to about     29° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘PER1409’ as illustrated and described. 